Mystery of China's Terracotta Army Solved

Scientists finally figure out what binding material was used

(Newser)
–
Every member of First Emperor Qin Shihuang’s Terracotta Army—thousands of replicas of Chinese imperial guards rendered in clay around 221 BC—is unique and incredibly realistic, which is why they've fascinated researchers since they were discovered in 1974. Now, scientists in China say they’ve peeled back another layer of mystery—they've figured out the binding media used to paint the more than 8,000 soldiers, chariots, and horses, Science China Press announces. The army was covered with a couple layers of lacquer; layers of pigment and binding media went on top of this. The pigment was identified, but the binding media was a mystery, making it difficult to conserve or restore the figures—until now. By comparing "artificially aged" replica samples to the historical samples, researchers pinpointed the binding material as animal glue.

The Terracotta Army was built on the emperor's orders to guard the underground palace where he was buried, to protect him in the afterlife. Just as the palace mirrored the imperial capital, the warriors replicated the imperial guard. The intricately detailed statues were posed as if ready for a fight—and now they look set to join the ranks of movie superheroes, thanks to a planned collaboration between movie companies in the US, UK, and China, the Sunday Express reports. But the plot of the potential movie—which could end up being just the first in a new franchise—is probably not what the First Emperor envisioned. On the silver screen, rather than protecting the emperor, they’ll come alive to protect the modern world from aliens. The movie studios have some pretty awesome-sounding working titles, including Rise of the Terracotta Warriors and Super Terracotta Warriors. Move over, Spider-Man. (Another scientific mystery was recently solved using ... tree rings.)

Sunlight cast shadow on the unearthed terracotta warriors displaying at the excavation site inside the No.1 pit of the Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses in Xi'an, in central China's Shaanxi...
(AP Photo/Andy Wong)

In this July 30, 2013 photo, a tourist stands near a terracotta warrior replica as she poses for a photo at the Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses in Xi'an, in China's Shaanxi province.
(AP Photo/Andy Wong)

The Xi'an diggers, researchers and analysts have a calcified mind set about the terra cotta array. They continue to insist that terra cotta soldiers were supposed the "protect the emperor in the afterlife" which of course is utter nonsense. And because they are controlled by the "records of the grand historian" they refuse to acknowledge that the empire was founded by peaceful means, and the terra cotta array was a celebration of the end of war. Here's the actual meaning and significance of the terra cotta array: http://davidgjones.authorsxpress.com/2012/05/14/david-g-jones-author-of-the-school-of-sun-tzu/

zipity

Aug 7, 2014 10:50 AM CDT

I can see it now. "Terracotta Army vs. Sharknado" Imagine the synergy. Lets set up a lunch and get this deal green-lighted.

Barney_Vincelette

Aug 6, 2014 10:52 AM CDT

The sheer vanity is not so different from the 1% who sacrifice everyone else into poverty, making many into street people, so that they can have such frivolities lavished upon them as multiple mansions that have nine figure price tags akin to what it cost to build a clay army for the ego of some emperor who was no better a human than anyone else.

Community

Site Maps

Get Newser

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.